How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success?

Tracie Bernardi Guzman

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The craziest thing is that, even when I felt like I was going nowhere—stuck in a never-ending tunnel without a glimpse of light—failure brought me something unexpected. That same failure, which once made me hate myself, consider ending it all, and want to destroy myself, ended up being the very thing that gave me a lived experience and a reality check. It helped me understand life in a way that people who haven’t been to the other side could never fully grasp. It gave me the chance to see life from a unique perspective.

I didn’t just learn about people who are free on the outside, living their lives in society. I also got to know the hidden world of those on the inside, existing in a cloaked and often forgotten society. I heard stories of childhood trauma—things courts barely take into account. I opened up about experiences I’d never dare to share publicly, things that hold me back from writing a book or turning my story into a movie. Believe me, I know I could, and I know people would listen and watch. I’m not naive about the power of my words. But I also know these words are not entirely mine; they’re the words God places in me. That’s why my audience is broad, why people listen when I speak—because they know the story I tell is the raw, unfiltered truth. I reveal realities they could’ve never imagined, things they might’ve judged without understanding.

This profound wisdom I carry didn’t come cheaply. It came from being burned in the flames of my own mistakes. I was someone who craved acceptance and would do anything to fit in, to be loved, and to be valued. That desperation only led to my incarceration. I even followed someone all the way to solitary confinement. There are so many aspects of this story I wish I could share, but trust me, the parts I can share tell a profound tale.

When I began to rebuild my faith and self-esteem, I discovered how to transform such a deeply negative experience into an empowering one. Through countless tears and lonely days, I gathered tools, learned lessons, and gained wisdom. God, piece by piece, began instilling amazing traits and qualities in me. Despite the bad people who came along, God placed enough good ones in my life to keep me going. Slowly, I transcended my low self-esteem, started to believe in myself, and realized the power of my story.

When I shared my story with other women who were struggling—those who felt lost, sad, or didn’t know their next step—it didn’t just offer them hope; it sobered them up. Many of them faced shorter sentences than mine, and when they heard my story, they knew in their hearts that if I could survive my journey, they could survive theirs too. For those who doubted it was possible to break free from addiction, I told them about the close family members I’d seen get clean. I helped them believe in hope again.

I shared stories of other women, of lessons I’d learned along the way. Just as I began to believe in myself, I helped others build self-esteem and understand the forgiveness I found in Jesus Christ. I explained it to them, guiding them to start healing and loving themselves the way I had. I became a mentor—a sister standing strong in a role no one expected me to play.

Some guards couldn’t believe the prison allowed me to mentor others, going unit to unit as a role model. Some even tried to block my entrance. Imagine—someone who served seven years in solitary confinement being trusted to lead others! After having no voice for so long, I finally learned to advocate for myself and ask for help, even within those walls. Because I was doing good, others began to believe in me, support me, and stand up for me. That felt incredible. And now, here I am today. I’ll include my bio below so you can see all that God has allowed me to do and who God has allowed me to help because of my failure.

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Tracie Bernardi Guzman, BIO 225

Tracie Bernardi Guzman is a formerly incarcerated woman who entered prison as a teenager and served 23 years, including seven years in solitary confinement.

Pre-Release

Leadership Experience

– Peer Mentoring/Group Facilitation: Sister Standing Strong Program (2009-2015)

– Garden Supervisor: Niantic, CT (Certified by Wesleyan University (PSP) Agriculture 2009-2011)

– Graphic Layout Designer/Editor: The York Voice (1994-2001)

– Organizer-

      Donation Drive (2009-2015)

      Food Share

      Homeless for The Holidays

Since Tracie’s release in 2015, she has made significant contributions in various fields:

Post Release

 –Awards and Citations:

– 2025 Nominee for I AM WOMAN2- She Rise’s

– Great 8 2023 CT Hall Of Change Inductee 2023

– Official Certificate of Special Recognition 2023: Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz

– Official Certificate of Special Recognition 2023: Senator Richard Blumenthal

– Official Certificate of Recognition 2023: State of Connecticut General Assembly

– The Ann Koletsky Award 2022

Certifications:

– Certified Recovery Specialist: Advocacy Unlimited

– Certified in Motivational Interviewing: Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness, Hartford, CT

– Certified Trainer on How Being Trauma-Informed Improves-Criminal Justice System Responses Trainer: SAMHSA’s GAINS Center for Behavioral Health and Justice Transformation, conducting workshops on trauma-informed responses within Connecticut

– ORAS Certified (Ohio Risk Assessment System): University of Cincinnati Corrections Institute

– Overdose Prevention & Naloxone Education Training**: Waterbury Health Department

– Certified CPR

-Certified Literacy Volunteer of America

– Certificate in Developing Cultural Competency

-Certified in Preparing and Giving legislative testimony

-Certified in Americans with Disabilities Act

 Current Employment:

– Case Manager: Waterbury Reentry Welcome Center with Community Partners in Action

– Chair/CEO/CFO/Founder/Visionary: Reentry Solutions CT Inc. (her second nonprofit)

Advocacy and Legislative Achievements:

– ACLU of Connecticut Smart Justice Leader: Fighting to end mass incarceration for five years

Key Legislative Contributions:

  – HB 6921: Establishing a Council on the Collateral Consequences of a Criminal Record (2019)

  – SB 88: Increasing Fairness and Transparency in the Criminal Justice System (2019)

  – SB 972: Free prison phone calls (2021)

  – SB 753: Ending prison gerrymandering (2021)

  – SB 1019: Clean Slate – automatic record erasure (2021)

  – HB 5428: Addressing the Collateral Consequences of Criminal Convictions on Occupational Licensing (2022)

  – SB 459: Ending Solitary Confinement (2022)

  – SB 448: Correctional Facility Health Care (2022)

  – SB 334: CDL Training program for Incarcerated People (2022)

  – HB 6004: Police Accountability (2020)

  – Plus, Additional bills passed in 2023 and currently advocating….

Previous Nonprofit Work

– Co-Founder/Co-Director: Once Incarcerated… Once INC…

-Former Warmline Operator CHR

– Former Rehab Coordinator CHR,

-Former Camp Councilor, Almost Home= Baldwin Rec-B.A.G. S Waterbury, CT

 Tracie received a full and absolute Pardon on Dec. 4th, 2024